Conversations with Teddy Hall Jr

Today we’d like to introduce you to Teddy Hall Jr.

Hi Teddy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Tittusville AOH Church in my hometown of Birmingham, Alabama watching my cousins play drums for the Sunday services and that influenced my desire to play drums. My parents (Teddy Hall, Sr., and Therlene Hall) purchased my first drumset – a Ludwig 4 pc – at the age of six because I kept “busting the heads on” the drum sets from JC Penney that they would purchase for Christmas . I was in general music class in elementary school and enrolled in band in 4th grade and continued through high school. Although I begin my college years at Tuskegee University as an electrical engineering major, the Director of Bands at that time, Warren Duncan influenced me to pursue music education and I transferred to his alma mater – Florida A&M University where I enrolled as a music ed major and participated in the Marching 100, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band II, Percussion Ensemble, and Tallahassee Community Orchestra with my teacher, Dr. Shaylor James. FAMU gave me an excellent foundation.

However, due to financial reasons, I transferred back home and completed my studies at the University of Alabama- Birmingham graduating with a BS in Music Education. From there I started teaching in Memphis City Schools as a middle school band director and taught private drum lessons in the Greater Memphis and Collierville communities. After teaching for one year, I received a graduate assistantship to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) to study under Professor Ricky Burkhead who helped to further develop my love and passion for percussion by exposing me to the concept of total percussion – marching percussion, concert percussion, world percussion, and drum set. We developed a strong bond and because of Prof Burkhead, I committed to a journey of wanting to help train and develop future percussionists and drummers, particularly those who looked like me who didn’t have opportunities due to socioeconomic status or disparities within their educational environments. After completing my graduate degree at Ole Miss, I begin a journey of teaching percussion full-time and part-time at several HBCUs which included Hampton University, Tennessee State University, Alabama A&M University, Miles College, Stillman College, Alabama State University, and Savannah State University. In addition to teaching middle school band in Memphis, TN, I have also taught middle school band and elementary music in Tuscaloosa, ALand served as assistant band director in Rockdale County Schools(Conyers, GA).  Currently, I teach elementary music in Henry County Schools (McDonough, GA).

In addition to teaching music and percussion, I have been fortunate to perform with several musical ensembles to include, including the Corinth Symphony, Bountiful Blessings Church of God in Christ Orchestra, York River Symhony Orchestra, Tuscaloosa Big Band, UAB Community Wind Band, Montgomery Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Music Project ensembles, West Side Winds Community Big Band and Wind Ensemble, Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra, the Cobb Wind Symphony, and Orchestra Noir. I have also performed with various music ministries at local churches throughout Alabama.  Last but not least, I must give credit to the amazing teachers whom I was privileged to study with and be mentored by during my journey. They are Warren Duncan, Shaylor James, Eric Hollenbeck, Ricky Burkhead, Johnny Lee Lane, Ndugu Chancler, Terri Lyne Carrington, Sonny Emory, Will Kennedy, Lil John Roberts, Larry Mathis, Tim Feeney, and Timothy Adams, Jr. I am active with our professional percussion organization – the Percussive Arts Society, serving on the Board of Advisors and previously with the Diversity Alliance and University Pedagogy Committees. Furthermore, due to my commitment and passion for excellence in percussion education, I have received educational artist endorsements from Pearl Adams, REMO, and Zildjian/Vic Firth. My goal is to help students realize their potential through the study and performance of music using drums and percussion as a means to do so.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has not been a smooth road. Some of my struggles along the way have been finances, finding ways to keep students motivated to stay the course and stay focused on finishing the degree, lack of sufficient instruments/resources in certain learning environments, and overcoming systemic racial barriers in hiring protocols for teaching positions and performance organizations. Another factor was witnessing the sudden deaths of two colleagues – Barney Smart Sr., Director of Bands at Hampton University- whom I worked with at my first college job; Oscar Watts (retired music educator, Central High School) who was a mentor to me in Tuscaloosa City Schools; and the passing of my father, Teddy Hall, Sr. All of three of these men were very influential in my life. Through prayer, counseling, and having great support from family and my close circle of friends, I have been able to keep the faith and endure the “hard times”.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a music educator. My passion is in teaching drums and percussion and performing as a freelance musician. As mentioned in my opening paragraph- I have taught all grade levels, k-12 and at the college level. I have taught privately in the community and served as an adjudicator for All-State Festivals and Marching Competitions. I specialize in total percussion. I am known for teaching beginners, coaching students, and being a “foundational teacher” in which I provide specialized instruction that is catered to meet the individual needs of each student to become their best. Aside from the many wonderful teaching and performing opportunities, I am proud of the research that was conducted on the first African American Percussion Professor to be appointed to the music faculty at a major music school – Professor Richard Johnson – Indiana University, the African American experience in Orchestral Percussion, meeting the first African American percussionist to perform with a professional symphony – Ms.Elayne Jones, and interviews/conversations that I have had with prominent drum set artists on teaching drum set in the classroom- Ndugu Chancler, Sonny Emory, Terri Lyne Carrington, Lil John Roberts, Will Kennedy, and Quincy Davis. I believe what sets me apart from others is that I am a man of faith, that I acknowledge God in everything I do, that I remain a student of music and the culture, and that I remember the beginnings of my first musical experience – the Church. In our community, the Church has been our source and foundation for so many things and it definitely has served as a training ground/launching pad for so many musicians and educators.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Yes, there are resources that I refer to for helping me to achieve my best. These include:
Apps:
– The Holy Bible app
– Tonal energy tuner app
– iTunes
– Spotify
– Twitter
– Instagram

Podcasts
– Pete’s Percussion Podcast
– Next Level Leaders with Dr. Joseph Walker, III
– Earn Your Leisure
– Unapologetically Black
– The Breakfast Club (select interviews)
– Power for Living with Bishop Dale C Bronner
– The Homecoming Podcast with Dr. Thema Bryant

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @tedhalljr
• Facebook: Teddy Hall Jr
• Youtube: Teddy Hall Jr

Image Credits
Lithonia High School Band Percussive Arts Society International Convention AL PAS Chapter Day of Percussion – Samford University Atlanta Music Project Hoover High School Band Paul Bryant High School Band Pearl Adams Demo Concert Snare Drum Video